In the year when I was so poor that I couldn't afford to eat, I sent a message to all my WeChat friends. "I, Qin Shi Huang, demand money. I will grant titles and can issue invoices." My childhood friend laughed so hard beside me that he nearly fell over. He mocked, "Shangying, are you crazy about money or what?" But the next moment, I received a notification on WeChat for fifty thousand yuan. It was transferred by a person with a gray avatar and no notes. Now, my childhood friend couldn't laugh anymore. His expression turned serious as he questioned, "Who is he? Why did he send you so much money?"
Chapter 1
The year I was so broke I couldn't afford a meal, I sent a message to all my WhatsApp contacts.
"I'm the King of England, send money as offering, and I'll knight you, with a great reward."
My childhood friend Brandon Curtis laughed until he was doubled over.
He mocked, "Fernanda, are you so desperate for money that you've lost your mind?"
But in the next moment, my WhatsApp notified me of a transfer of fifty thousand dollars.
It was from someone with a gray profile picture, without any note.
This time, Brandon couldn't laugh anymore.
His face turned sour as he demanded, "Who is he? Why would he send you so much money?"
The moment I received the money, I stared at the profile picture for a long time.
I couldn't recall who it was.
Then, I clicked into his profile.
Apart from the gender, nothing else was revealed.
Even after I accepted the money, he didn't react, not even sending a single message.
But I found myself staring at the chat window for a long, long time.
Until my eyes ached and Brandon shouted at me in anger, I had come back to sense.
"Fernanda, who is this? "
Only then did I remember there was someone beside me.
But I didn't react much, just glanced at him indifferently.
"I don't know."
I heard myself say softly.
Brandon felt like he was being played.
He grabbed my wrist, furious and embarrassed, "Don't fool me. Would a stranger send you money over a joke? You can't keep it, return it now."
Being yelled at for no reason put me in a bad mood too.
Moreover, who gave him the right to order me?
I forcefully broke free from Brandon's grip.
With a mocking smile, I said coldly, "It's none of your business. I'm not returning it."
His eyes reddened with anger at my words.
"Fernanda, do you love money that much?"
Hearing this, I couldn't help but chuckle. I retorted, "We've known each other for so long, and you're just realizing this now?"
Our families were close friends, and our parents had been friends for decades.
Since birth, marrying Brandon seemed like a foregone conclusion.
Under the influence of our parents, I subconsciously thought so too.
But Brandon was particularly annoyed by this idea.
He hated a life that was pre-arranged.
And along with it, he grew to dislike me as well.
"Can you stop following me?"
"Fernanda, who gave you the right to decide for me?"
"Stop bothering me!"
These were his usual remarks.
But I was also raised in the lap of luxury, and naturally couldn't accept his attitude.
Over time, our relationship became like fire and water.
Whenever we met, it was a routine of mutual bickering.
He mocked me, and I would retaliate by hitting him where it hurt.
Our relationship slightly improved the day my family went bankrupt.
My parents, in a daze, died in a car accident on their way to the company.
From the once high-and-mighty daughter of a wealthy family, I fell into the mud overnight.
Anyone could step on me and spit at me.
Brandon, who usually bickered with me, changed his attitude and let me cry in his arms for half a day.
I cried all over him, but he didn't mind at all, just held me tightly.
He said stiffly, "I'm here. I will always be here with you."
At that moment, I really liked Brandon.
I saw him as my only support.
For a while after that, he openly took care of me.
I thought Brandon might have liked me, even just a bit.
So, on the day the college entrance exams ended, emboldened by alcohol, I confessed to him.
"Brandon, I like you."
Hearing that, Brandon showed no reaction.
His brows furrowed, his attitude particularly cold.
He just looked at me quietly, his eyes as deep as ocean.
I couldn't figure out what he meant after I confessed my feelings to him
But from that day on, his attitude completely changed.
Brandon no longer provided me with any financial support.
When we occasionally met, he would mock me mercilessly, just like before.
Even more so, he knew exactly how to hit where it hurt.
At that point, I finally understood that it was all just my wishful thinking.
I should have known from the start that Brandon always disliked me.
He protected me probably out of consideration for our families' past friendship.
After that, I voluntarily withdrew from his world, no longer entangling with him.
Yet Brandon often appeared in front of me on his own.
Mocking and ridiculing me seemed to become his only joy in life.
I always treated his taunts as mere background noise.
But today, I was truly out of money.
The summer job hadn't paid, and the counselor was urging for tuition fees. I hadn't eaten in two days.
With no other option, I called Brandon.
As usual, he mocked me, teasing, "Want to borrow money? Kneel before me."
I didn't say anything, just looked at him for a long time.
Just when Brandon thought I would curse him, I knelt straight down.
A hint of panic flashed across his face.
He quickly said, "Fernanda, I was kidding. Even if you kneel, I won't lend you money!"
Sure enough.
I just shrugged and said "Oh," stood up swiftly, and dusted off my knees.
I supposed I had truly hit rock bottom.